The Ottawa free trader., 1887-10-15
A Romance Of the Jerseys, 1879.
BY BRET HARTE.
Copyrighted by Houghton, Mifilin Co., and
published by arrangement with theml
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
The rising wind, which had ridden
much faster than Mistress Thankful, had
increased to q gale by the time it reached
Morristown. 1t swept through the leaf
less naples and ratified the dry bones Of
the clms. II whistled through the quiet
Presbyterian churchyard, as II trying to
arouse the sleepers IL had known In
days gone by. It shook the blank, luster-
less windows of the Assembly rooms over
the Freemasons' tavern and wrought In
their Rusty curtains moving shadows Of
those amply petticoated danes and tightly
hosed cavaliers who had swung in "Sir
Roger" or jigged in "Money Musk" the
night before.
But fancy IL was around the isolated
"Ford mansion" better known as the
headquarters, that the wind wreaked
its grotesque rage It howled under its
scant caves, It sang under its bleak porch,
It tweaked the peak Of its front gable, It
whistled through every chink and Granny
of its square, solid, unpicturesque struc-
ture. Situated on a hillside that de-
scended rapidly to the Whippany river,
every summer sephyr that whispered
through the porches Of the Morristown
farm houses charged as stiff breeze upon
the swinging half doors and windows Of
tho ''Ford mansion;" every wintry wind
became q gale that threatened its security.
The sentry who paced before its front
porch knew from experience when to
linger under its lea and adjust his thread
bare outer coat to the bitter north wind.
Within the house something Of this
cheerlessness prevailed. II had an ascetic
gloom, which the scant freight Of the
reception room and the dying embers on
the dining room hearth failed to dissi-
pate. The central hall was broad, and
furnished plainly with few rush bot
toned chairs, on one Of which half dOzed
q black body servant of the commander
in-chief. Two officers in the dining room,
drawn close by the chimney corner,
chatted in undertones, as II mindful that
the door of the drawing room was open,
and their voices might break In upon its
sacred privacy. The swinging light In the
hall partly illuminated 1t, or rather
glanced gloomily from the black polished
furniture, the lusterless chairs, the quaint
cabinet, the silent spinet, the skeleton
legged center table, and finally upon the
motiOnless figure Of q man seated by the
fire.
It was a figure since SO well known to
the civilized world, since 80 celebrated In
print and painting, as to need no descrip-
tion here. Its rare combination of gentle
dignity with profound force, Of a set resO-
luteness Of purpose with a philosophical
patience, have been so frequently deliv-
cred to q people not particularly remark
able for these qualities, that I fear It has
too often provoked spirit Of playful ag-
gression, in which the deeper underlying
meaning was forgotten. So let me add
that In manner, physical equipoise, and
even in the mere details Of dress, this
figure indicated certain aristocratic ex-
clusiveness. It was the presentment OF a
king-a king who by the irony Of ctrcum-
stances was just then waging war against
all kingship; ruler Of men, who just
then was fighting for the right Of these
b. men to govern themselves, but whom by
his own inherent right he dominated.
From the crown of his powdered head to
the silver buckle Of his shoe he was 30
royal that 1t was not strange that his
brother George of England and Hanover
ruling by accident, otherwise impi0usly
known as the ''grace Of God'-could find
no better way Of resisting his power than
by calling him 'Mr Washington"
The sound of horses hOofs, the formal
challenge Of sentry, the grave questioning
Of the officer of the guard, followed by
footsteps upon the porch, did not appar-
emily disturb his meditation. Nor did the
opening Of the outer door, and charge Of
cold air into the hall that invaded even the
privacy Of the reception room, and bright
ened the dying embers ON the hearth, stir
his calm preoccupation. But an instant
later there was the distinct rustic Of q
feminine skirt in the hall, hurried whis-
pering Of mems voices, and then the sud-
den apparition Of smooth, fresh faced
young officer over the shoulder of the un-
conscious figure.
II beg your pardon, general" said the
officer doubtingly, "but''-
"You are not intruding, Col Hamil-
ton," said tho general quietly.
There is young lady without who
wishes an audience Of your excellency.
iTis Mistress Thankful Blossom, the
daughter Of Abner Blossom, charged with
treasonous practice and fsvoring the en-
-emy, now in the gusrdhouse at Morris
town"
Thankful BlossomY' repeated the gen.
eral interrogatively.
"Your excellency doubtless remembers
shttle provincial beauty and famous
toast of the country side-the Cressida Of
our Morristown epic, who led our gallant
Connecticut captain astray''-
"Y0u have the advantages, besides the
better memory of . younger man, colonel, u
said Washington, with q playful smile
that slightly !reddened the, check of his
aidede-oamp. ~'sYst 4 think i have heard
OF this phenomenon. By all means, ad.
init her-and her escort"
fs1She Is alOua. General. ~ re9pon<1ed the